“1988 Southwest Art Modern Art Exhibition" was a significant gathering of representative artists from the southwestern region, held in Chengdu through collaborative efforts of artists and critics. Participating artists included Zhang Xiaogang, Ye Yongqing, He Duoling, Mou Heng, Shen Xiaotong, Gu Xiong, Mao Xuhui, Pan Dehai, Ma Yun, Chen Heng, and Li Huiang, who are respectively from Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Additionally, artists such as Li Jixiang, Dai Guangyu, Wang Falin, Yang Shu, as well as Li Luming from Hunan and Zou Jianping from Henan, also took part.
The exhibition aimed to demonstrate the continued development of modern art in the southwestern region, beyond the trends of 'Scar Art' and 'Vernacular Painting.' It served as a comprehensive showcase of the artistic strength of the Southwest art community since the '85 Thought Movement. Furthermore, the Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House's "Painter" editorial department published a special issue (Volume 9, 1988) dedicated to this exhibition, marking the first integrated attempt in China to combine a modern art exhibition with a catalog.